With adoption of a revised RCCF policy in January 2016 by the Board of Commissioners, Benton County re-instituted a fund-sharing program much like Phase 1 described in the Background & History section. The County is currently accepting economic development project proposal applications from its community partners (cities and ports), and is eager to financially support these endeavors.

Benton County’s Office of Sustainable Development manages the RCCF and the disbursement process. Applications from project sponsors are received and reviewed for their consistency with County policy and state law. Applications can be received at any time and in any amount within the entity’s allocation. This is a non-competitive process and the County does not pick winners and losers. Three of the main things that the County looks for in a project are how it contributes to business recruitment/retention, how does it contribute to job growth/stability, and how does it contribute to sales and property tax revenue. Partnerships and other forms of leveraging are encouraged.

This project will construct public infrastructure (extension of water, sewer, electrical and effluent utilities) and construct roads, storm drainage, lighting, landscaping, and parking areas to support the Port's construction of two buildings on a six-acre site to provide space for restaurants, wine tasting rooms, and other related businesses. The Columbia Gardens project is expected to result in over 100 permanent jobs.

Install a force main extension to Lift Station 7 to move wastewater under pressure to the City's wastewater treatment plant;

Install pump upgrades at Lift Station 7 to increase overall capacity south of the Yakima River for full utilization of the force main extension and provision of continuous sewer service to the area south of the Yakima River for both existing and future customers;

Install a radio telemetry system for better real-time monitoring of the status and function of Lift Station 7 remotely, as opposed to onsite; and

Install a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system to allow controlled adjustments to Lift Station 7 to be made remotely.

This project's improvements will assist in the recruitment of new businesses and are expected to result in over 40 permanent jobs related to business(es) on the previously City-owned parcel. Improvements to Lift Station 7 are vital to developing this area in Benton City because that station used to go out of service whenever the Yakima River reached Man Hole 9-5 (which services the lift station). These improvements will allow the lift station to adequately serve the proposed development property and other similar properties in the area.

Port of Benton - Vintner's Village II (2017-642)This project was approved by the Board of Commissioners on September 19, 2017, and will use RCCF monies to construct a new single-level, 8,600 square foot facility (to be known as Vintner's Village II) on property that it owns in Prosser, divided into three separate bays of approximately 2,500 square feet each, plus additional office space for the purpose of leasing the bays to private sector operators and promotion of the local wine industry.

The project will include all site preparations, construction of the new building, and connections to all utilities, with the intention of mirroring the successful nearby predecessor development - Vintner's Village.

City of Richland - Queensgate Drive Improvement (2017-738)This project was approved by the Board of Commissioners on October 31, 2017, and will use RCCF monies to facilitate business and commercial growth in the Queensgate area through added traffic capacity, increased property access, and improved safety.

The project includes all design, engineering, environmental review, permitting, rights-of-way, acquisitions, and construction associated with the project. At full build-out, the project is expected to result in up to 2,100 permanent retail/commercial jobs in the area. The construction will include: